How Eco-Accommodation Providers use Waste Management Systems
The term waste management is pretty broad in terms of scope as humans create a vast array of different kinds of waste and not surprisingly there are usually more than one way to deal with one type of waste.
Waste Monitoring and Auditing
The first part of any effective waste management system is to gain a full picture of what is wasted by the accommodation provider in order for it to operate. Then taking that information and working out how to bring down the waste, while not impacting on the day to day running of the business. The Scandic hotel chain in Northern Europe is perfect example of a company which has really invested in waste monitoring.
Recycling
One of the key elements of waste management is recycling, which isn’t just the obvious re-using of a resource to reduce the carbon that would be generated, producing the product again, from scratch, it is also to keep it out of the natural environment. Products made of plastics are best recycled, as if they are introduced to the natural environment they can kill wildlife, poison water and damage soil. Recycling is perhaps the easiest win for accommodation providers wanting to "go green" as in the developed world it is becoming second nature to most people and in the developing countries people were doing it before it even had a name.
Sewage Treatment and Management
Human Waste or sewage as it is more commonly known, can be highly damaging to the environment, but if correctly managed, can benefit the environment. Composting toilets use either no or limited amounts of water. The benefit of using composting toilets are three fold, firstly traditional wet sewage requires energy for the treatment of the water used in them, secondly wet sewage methods use water resources which could be used more effectively for drinking water or agriculture and thirdly they actually work faster than traditional wet sewage treatment.
Water
The management of water is important on a number of levels, firstly obviously it is a resource that is required for life to exist on earth. That importance then breaks down into another of considerations for people providing eco-friendly hospitality. Firstly it requires energy to move water and treat, so it is safe to drink etc, so minimising waste at the point of use is important. After it’s been used the next step is how best to return it to the earth with the least amount of post-usage treatment. In the accommodation listings you will see the term “grey water”. This term is used for water that has been used for washing clothes, personal hygiene or dish-washing which can be used on flowers and plants. Also rainwater maybe collected and treated on site, for the use of guests or just to maintain gardens and the immediate natural environment.
Water Bottles Policy
Hotels are starting to realise the amount of energy and physical resources used to bottle, store, transport and advertise bottled water and simply put they are not the best usage of the world resources. So although they are still stocking bottled water they are trying to promote reusing plastic bottles and offering tap water within their restaurants. Once again the Scandic Hotel Chain are leading the way.
